Thread: Celluloid

In my opinion vintage fountain pens made of celluloid are the most beautiful writing instruments ever made. For scales made for refurbishing vintage straight razors it is my current material of choice. Celluloid is a hard plastic. Yet it is easy to saw and to shape. It takes a high polish with little effort. It is waterproof. It has two drawbacks. It is flammable and it warps when exposed to heat (as when left in the hot sun or dropped in hot water). One advantage is that it is soluble in acetone. Small repairs are easily mended. Thus, if you make a small amount of dust with a file and apply a drop or two of acetone, you create a slurry that can be applied to a crack or blemish. Acetone evaporates rapidly and in a short time you have your repair. I have not tried this but I plan to experiment applying a drop or two of acetone to one side of a spacer and apply it to one of the scales. I believe it will create an invisible weld.

I have only one small piece of celluloid left. There is one supply I am aware of (American Art Plastics ) but the choices are limited. If anyone learns of a supply in small quantities of 1/8 inch sheet celluloid please let me know.